M728

Tank, Combat, Engineers Vehicle, Full-Tracked, M728
M728 CEV



Takticko-Technická Data


Crew
- 4 (driver, loader, gunner, commander)


Dimensions
- Overall length : 8.834 mm
- Hull length : 6.947 mm
- width : 3.702 mm
- height : 3.256 mm
- ground clearance : 389 mm


Weight
- 52,2 t


Specific ground pressure
- 0,863 kg/cm2


Armament
- Cannon : 165 mm (M135)
- Number of rounds : 30
- Sight : 360° (full circle)
- Aim : -9° - +19°
- machine gun : M73 / M219 / M240 (7.62 mm calibre)
- Number of rounds : 2.000 pcs (3.600 pcs)
- anti-aircraft machine gun : M85 (12.7 mm calibre)
- Number of rounds : 600 (728)


Power plant
- Power unit : Continental AVDS-1790-2D
- power : 750 hp at 2,400 rpm
- Transmission : General Motors CD-850-6A


Fuel tank capacity
- 1.460 l (385 gal)


Speed
- Maximum : 48 km/h (30 mph)


Driving range
- 450-500 km (280-310 miles)



Historie
The M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) was developed to provide all-round support to engineers in the front line of battle, under armour protection, with sufficient mobility and adequate firepower. Among the tasks the vehicle was to perform were the removal of roadblocks and other obstacles, filling craters, trenches, and various crevices. Limited road building, erecting roadblocks, and clearing debris and rubble. The vehicle could also transport and support demolition teams and other engineer operations. Finally, the vehicle was to destroy heavily fortified strongpoints. The M728 CEV was developed in 1959 (as the T118E1) and entered service in 1965. Not long after, it underwent its combat baptism on the battlefields of the Vietnam War. It has seen combat service in a number of wars and conflicts since its introduction into combat service (Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait and Iraq) and was retired from the U.S. Army's arsenal in the early 21st century. The vehicle was produced at the Detroit Tank Arsenal (part of the former Chrysler corp.; now General Dynamics - Land System Division) in 291 units. In addition to the U.S.A., the vehicle was/is used by the German Army (Bundeswehr) and the South Korean armed forces.



Popis
The M728 CEV is a tracked vehicle, derived from the M60 series tank (or M60A1), which has been produced in the U.S.A. since the 1960s. The tank's chassis group did not undergo any major changes. There are 6 independently suspended running wheels on each side (using torsion bars), 3 carrier pulleys, a tension wheel in front and a drive gear (11 teeth) in the rear. The first, second and last running wheels are additionally suspended by hydraulic shock absorbers. The vehicle uses T142 tracks 714 mm (28") wide.
Each vehicle is equipped as standard with an M9 plow, used by M60 series tanks. In addition, it can be equipped with mechanical demining equipment (with riving knives or roller discs). Changes from the M60A1 tank concern mainly the turret and its accessories. The main weapon of the tank M60A1 (the 105 mm calibre M68 gun) has been replaced by a 165 mm calibre demolition gun and associated equipment. The gun had a double dump arm installed on the turret along with a winch.
The M728 CEV is equipped with a manually loaded M135 short-barrelled demolition gun (which is believed to be a licensed copy of the British L9A1 gun), in 165 mm calibre. The ammunition, of which 30 pieces are carried as standard, is the M123E1 HEP (High Explosive Plastic) round. For training purposes, the M623 target practice (TP) round is used. The maximum range of the M163 with the M123E1 HEP is +/- 925 meters (according to another source over 1,200 meters). The main weapon is coupled with an M73 or M219 machine gun or M240 7.62 mm calibre. The turret, located in the right half of the turret, is equipped with an M85 machine gun (12.7 mm calibre).
The gunner has an M105F telescope, together with M13A3 (quadrant) and M28E2 (azimuth) auxiliary indicators, and an M32 IR periscope for night vision. The commander (TC) is equipped with IR periscope M36 (M36E1) and the driver with IR periscope M24, also for night vision. The vehicle can be equipped with an AN/VSS-2 (2.2 kW) or AN/VSS-3A (1 kW) xenon IR searchlight mounted above the main guns.
The crane arms (in the shape of an A-arm) are mounted on the sides of the turret and a winch is mounted at the rear of the turret. In normal operation, when not in use, the arms are folded backwards (in the direction of travel) and do not interfere with the frontal silhouette of the turret and tank (but do protrude over the rear of the tank). When tilted into the operating position, the boom extends over the front of the tank. The crane has a lifting capacity of 7,955 kg, the winch itself has a pull of 11,300 kg. A 19 mm steel rope with a length of approximately 60 metres is used. As the crane is mounted on the tower, it is rotatable through 360°.
The M728 CEV is equipped with a 12-cylinder supercharged, air-cooled Continental AVDS-1790-2D (Reliability Improvement Selected Equipment - RISE) diesel engine rated at 560 kW (750 hp) and a General Motors (Detroit Diesel, Allison) CD-850-6A transmission.




The information as well as the images below were (are) taken from the following websites - http://www.afvdb.50megs.com/ ; http://www.wikipedia.org/ ; https://www.valka.cz/ ; http://www.inetres.com/ ; http://www.fas.org/ ; http://www.globalsecurity.org/ ; http://www.tpub.com/ ; http://www.janes.com/ ;
URL : https://www.valka.cz/M728-t36174#242477 Version : 0
Engineer tanks M728 CEV
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URL : https://www.valka.cz/M728-t36174#242478 Version : 0
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